My first semester at Western New England University was challenging yet worth every day I spent there. The pandemic made life at college a little surreal. I don’t think I have ever spent so much time doing homework. I was actually glad to be away from home so I could really focus on doing my best work and getting the most out of my classes. I did make friends and get to meet other students who were in the same major as me. My favorite class was Intro to Criminal Justice. We spent all class learning about the different parts of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, courts and corrections. There’s so much more to criminal justice than just the police. It opened my eyes to all the career possibilities that are out there in the field. It made me fall in love with criminal justice all over again. In addition to classes, I also joined the U & Me club. It is part of the bigger Diversity Club. It is open to everyone who considers themselves a member of a minority group. The club provides students with mentors who help them feel a part of the University. My mentor was Nashali. She’s from Puerto Rico. I feel like this club is so important to help students who are diverse feel like they belong. I want to be a mentor someday. Even though I spent most of my weekends traveling back to the island as I tried to complete the Police Academy training that had been interrupted by the pandemic, my first semester was definitely worth all the hard work because I feel like I am more mature, more open to new things. It showed me the path to my future. It kept my focus on why I was going to school -- to eventually become a criminal justice professional who has the knowledge and skills to make my community a better place. I am grateful every day for this scholarship, because without it, I would not be able to concentrate so much on my studies or I might not have been able to attend Western New England University at all. Thank you.